Transparent sanitary enclosure



Aug. 21, 1951 Filed Aug. 14, 1947 I. J. WOMACK TRANSPARENT SANITARY ENCLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR I 5 ahelle JWn ma ck,

ATTORNEY J. worviAcK' TRANSPARENT SANITARY ENCLOSURE Aug. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Au 14, 1947 WITOIP/VEK Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,565,011 TRANSPARENT SANITARY ENCLOSURE Isabelle J. Womack, Scotch Plains, N. J. Application August 14, 1947, Serial No. 768,644 1 Claim. (01. 312-284) The invention relates to a display case, and more especially to a transparent sanitary enclosure for display purposes and other uses.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a case of this character, wherein its content will be protected against dust and dirt, andat the same time will be readily accessible, the content being fully displayed while within the case, and meeting sanitary requirements, as called for bybakeries, food stores or the like. "Another object of the invention is the provision of a case of this character, wherein the construction thereof is novel and unique, it being possessed of few parts, the covering being preferably made from transparent plastic material, While the frame is constructed from aluminum or other light strong material, thus rendering the said case light in weight and readily portable.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a case of this character, wherein the cover for the same istailored for snug smooth fitting, and is most durable, allowing visibility of the contents of the case as stored within.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a case of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in purpose, susceptible of many uses, strong, durable, neat and attractive in appearance, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illlustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred and modified forms of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the covering for the case as disclosed in Figure 2.

Figure '2 is a perspective view of one form of the case constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the covering as patterned for the case shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another form of case constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the frame for the case shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, of another form of case constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 7 is an elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the display case constructed in accordance with the invention, comprises a substantially circular shaped covering A, preferably made from, plastic material, transparent, although it can be made from any other material, having the required rigidity and transparency, and involves a circular side walled body 10, made from a relatively thin sheet-like ply of such material, indicated at H, and having a joining terminal flap l2, so that the ends of the ply can be connected together in any suitable manner, while the top I3 is of disk form with connecting flaps [4, these being connected to the inner surface of the body II], as best seen in Figure 2. The body Illcan be provided with a false bottom not shown, as for example a hold-' ing platter. In this instance, namely, the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the case is devoid of a frame structure, yet this may be provided, and not here shown.

In Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings there is shown another form of case constructed in accordance with the invention, wherein it involves a transparent covering denoted generally at B, comprising a patterned sheet of material, preferably made from plastic material, cut to form a top l5, sides I6, and ends II, respectively, the sides being formed with lapping tabs [8, and the sides and ends are bent on fold lines l9, while the tabs I8 are joined with the ends II in any suitable manner, to set the covering B in the shape disclosed in said Figure 4, to effect an enclosure.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, therein is shown a frame, preferably made from tubing, of aluminum, and involves upper and lower spaced parallel longitudinally disposed pairs of rails 20 and 2!, and cross connecting rails 22, respectively, these at the ends of the frame being unitary with the rails 2m and 2|, adjacent thereto, while at the meeting points of these rails 20, 2|, and 22, only at one side of the frame are tubular prop members 23, which are unitary at their meeting therewith.

The frame as before described fits snugly within the covering B to brace the same and maintain it against collapsing from a set condition, while in use for storage and display purposes unitary with each other or continuous, as will be apparent. The covering C, under the construction just stated, is carried upon a skeleton-like inner metallic frame, having the vertically disposed end loops 29, each made preferably from strip-like bars, or aluminum straps, and longitudinally dis:

posed strips or bars 36, of the same material as the loops 29, and such strips or bars 29 and 30, respectively, are suitably joined together.

The covering with the frame just described therein is telescopically fitted over a flange-like thimble 3| upstanding from and a part of a bottom section 32 and inset marginally from the latter, as is best seen in Figures 6 and 8, of the drawings, there being a snug fitting between the said thimble and the covering.

The frame including the loops 29 and the strips or bars 30, respectively, is removably fastened at 33 to the bottom section 32, While exteriorly encircling and embracing the covering C, next to its open bottom 28, is a retaining hoop 34, it having an attaching flange 35 which is riveted or otherwise fastened to the said bottom section 32, as clearly disclosed in Figure 7 or Figure 8 of the drawings, the fasteners being denoted at 36.

The covering C, at one end thereof, has a doorway 31 normally closed by a door 38, which may be of any selected construction and mounting,

4 for the opening and closing of the same, so that access may be had to the interior of the display case for placement and removal of contents to and from the latter.

The display case in its variable constructions can be used for any purposes adaptable thereto, and is more especially used for storing and displaying foodstufis or other like materials, with resultant assurance of sanitation thereto.

What is claimed is:

An article of the kind described, comprising a skeleton-like inner frame having vertically disposed end loops, each of strip-like form, and

longitudinally disposed strips with respect to the loopsv and joined with the latter, a bottom section having the loops vertically secured thereto,

an upstanding continuous flange-like thimble rising from the bottom section slightly removed from its'marginal edge, a retaining hoop secured to the bottom section entirely about the thimble with a resultant gap therebetween, and an outer transparent covering constituting an enclosure snugly telescoped over the end loops and thimble at a bottom opening for frictionally engaging in the gap between such thimble and retaining hoop with detachable union therebetween.

ISABELLE J. WOMACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,126,258 Myers Jan. 26, 1915 1,133,979 Lee Mar. 30, 1915 1,642,385 Pryor Sept. l3, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 708,460 France Apr. 28, 1931 

